SHILLONG: Still on a high from their Second Division I-League triumph, which promoted them to next season’s premier league, Royal Wahingdoh FC were felicitated by Wahingdoh Sports Club on Monday.
The programme was held at Wahingdoh Community Hall and was followed by a parade through various localities of Shillong by the team and supporters.
The Royals qualified for the top tier on Friday by beating Bhawanipore FC 3-2 in the last match of the league in Aizawl. The third team from Shillong in the I-League (after Shillong Lajong and Rangdajied United) made it through after three unsuccessful attempts.
Hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the hall on Monday and the players were in a jovial mood and took time to pose for photos and sign autographs.
Speaking on the occasion, local MLA Roshan Warjri congratulated the club for entering the country’s top football league and said that she was still in a “celebratory mood”.
“I pray that the club will achieve many more milestones in the near future,” Warjri, who is also the Home Minister, said.
Also present were local MDC James Ban Basaiawmoit, Wahingdoh Rangbah Shnong D Dkhar, Shillong Sports Association secretary B Diengdoh and Meghalaya Football Association secretary SS Rapthap.
RWFC managing director Dominic Sutnga urged the fans to continue backing their team.
“This club would never survive without the support of its fans,” he said, while also thanking Wahingdoh Sports Club for its support.
RS Marbaniang, Assistant Rangbah Shnong, looked to the future when he said: “Wahingdoh may be the third team from Shillong in the I-League, but who knows, maybe we will be the first from Shillong to win the championship.”